The Saints Sacrifice, Section 57
§. 57. Of Gods ſeaſonable kindneſse.
VIII. *§. 49.GODS remedy is anſwerable to mans neceſſitie. aExo 13▪ 21.That which was a cloud in the day to ſhelter his people from the ſcorching heat of the Sun, was a pillar of fire to give them light in the night, that they might go by day and by night. b—164.When they had no bread, he rained downe Manna from heaven. c—17….When they had no water, he opened a rocke and gave them water to drink. d—15. 25.When they had water enough, but it was ſo bitter as they could not drinke of it, he made it ſweet. e—17. 8. Reddetur populo …al…citas priſ…i…a quam aliquando habuere in eremo, pr…ceden…e Domino eos per d…em in columna nubis, & per no ctem in columna ign…s, ut nec in proſperis, nec in adverſis aliquan d… turbentur. Hier. Comment. in Iſay 4When their enemies infeſted them, he overthrew thoſe enemies. According to all their needs he afforded them fit helpe. Thus while his people were in the wilderneſſe, he gave extraordinary, but viſible demonſtrations of his more inviſible, but ordinary providence towards his in all ages. Hereby is accompliſhed that of the Pſalmiſt, (Pſal. 121. 6.) The Sun ſhall not ſmit… thee by day, nor the Moone by night. Which not unfitly may be applied to mens ſeverall eſtates of proſperity and adverſity.
Remedies anſwerable to mens neceſſities are ſeaſonable: ſeaſonable remedies are profitable: profitable remedies are acceptable: acceptable remedies are moſt availeable to provoke men to all gratitude: gratitude makes them diligent in obſerving what may moſt make to the honour of God, and zealous in promoting the ſame. Thus the very kind of remedy which God affordeth, maketh moſt to mans good, and his owne glory.
Learne hence wiſdome of this wiſe God: and that in two eſpeciall points.
Directions. 1 Pray for ſeaſonable bleſſings.1. Seeke of him ſuch things as are ſeaſonable for thee to receive: as they who in the daies of Chriſts fleſh came to him for ſuccour: The blind, for ſight: the deafe, for hearing; the dumbe, for ſpeech: the lame, for ſound limbes: and ſo others … remedy, ſit for their particular malady. Anſwerably, art … danger of death? Seeke preſervation from death, with a …er…ation to Gods good pleaſure. Doth any anguiſh ſo wor… on thine inward paſſion, as to force teares from thine eyes? pray to have thoſe teares wiped away. Doſt thou find thy …eet ſliding, thy ſpirit fainting? Deſire God either to keepe thee from falling, or to raiſe thee againe: and to revive thy Spirit. Seeke not unneceſſaries: ſeeke not ſuperfluities: ſeeke not to ſatisfie thy luſts. Well weigh what an Apoſtle ſaith in this caſe, Ye aske and receive not, becauſe ye aske amiſſe, that ye may conſume Iam. 4. 3.it upon your lusts.
2 Seaſonably do good.2. Let thy kindneſſe be as ſeaſonable as thou canſt. Give bread to him that is an hungry, drinke to him that is a thirſt. Endeavour to allay the paſſion of ſuch as are in paſſion: raiſe up thoſe that are fallen. Inſtruct the ignorant: bring into the way of truth ſuch as wander. Comfort ſuch as are troubled in conſcience. Herein lieth a maine difference betwixt a skilfull Phyſitian and a deceitfull Emperick. The Phyſitian enquireth after the kind of diſeaſe, conſtitution of perſon, temperature of climate, ſeaſon of yeare, and anſwerably preſcribeth his remedy. The Empirick gives his remedy without any reſpect to the forenamed reſpects. If it do any good, then its well: if it do none, it was all that he could do: and by that all, many more receive hurt then good by his his preſcripts. To be an Emperick about the maladies that affect the ſoule, and endanger the eternall ſalvation thereof, is inſufferable. Do therefore good: do it, as David did, According to the integrity of thine heart, by the skilfulneſſe of Pſal. 78. 72.thine hands. For which end pray for wiſdome of him that is wiſdome it ſelf: that ſo thou maiſt be perfect as he is perfect.Mat. 5. 48.
Hitherto of the Prophets proteſtation for his inward diſpoſition.